Bib



B. L. CANTOR Aug. 16, 1949.

BIB

Filed Feb. 27, r1948 Gttornegs Patented Aug. 16, 1949 BIB Beatrice L. Cantor, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application February 27, 1948, Serial No. 11,579

3 Claims.

This invention is for a garment in the nature of a bib or apron designed to be worn over the shoulder of an adult when taking care of an infant.

After feeding an infant, particularly young babies who are fed only or mostly liquids, it is considered good practice on the part of the parent or nurse to rest the babyV in an upright position against the shoulder and pat it gently on the back to relieve the baby of air or gas. This is often referred tov as burping a baby.

Not infrequently, and with some babies, almost always, some of theY food or liquid will be regnrgitated, and sincethe hands of the vadult tending the baby are engaged in holding and patting it, it is quite impossible to maneuver a towel or napkin in a manner to avoid soiling of the garment of the parent or nurse.

The present invention has for its object to provide a bib or apron of simple, economical and convenient form, which may be worn over the shoulder by a person responsible for the care of the baby, and which will afford complete protection to the garments of the wearer against being soiled when the baby does regurgitate or vomit.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through a portion of the hem taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the garment is made of a rubberized fabric, plastic or other waterrepellent cloth or sheet material. The material is cut and formed so as to provide a hood portion 2 to envelop one shoulder and the upper part of the body of the wearer. There is a ridge part 3 that covers the ridge of the shoulder, and it drapes forwardly and rearwardly from this ridge, and has an end part 4 that shields the upper arm. The garment is shaped to encircle the neck, the neck hole being designated 5. Two naps and l forming a part oi the garment deine a part of the loop or hole for the neck, these aps having cooperating fastener parts 8 thereon. A conventional snap fastener is quite suitable and convenient for this purpose, but other securing means, such as a button, tie-strings or the like may be used.

More specically, when the garment is in position with the neck of the person wearing the 2 garment extending through the opening 5, the ridge 3 forms a top cover extending from the neck to the tip of the shoulder. The end part It extends downwardly from the ridge 3 and provides a protective cover for the arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Also extending downwardly from the ridge 3' are spaced front and Yrear parts which provide protective covers for the breast and back of the person wearing the garment. rEhe iront and rear parts are extended laterally and upwardly to provide the naps t and 'i and to define the opening 5. When the garment is worn, it thus provides a protective covering for the clothing in all of the area to at least one side of the neck and including the breast, back, shoulder, and arm of the person wearing the garment.V

From the neck flaps the edges of the garment drop down several inches to the bottom edge or hem. Instead of a Conventional hem, the fabric is turned upwardly and outwardly to form a little trough around the edge of the garment. The upwardly-turned edge, designated 9, may be either a separate piece of material, or an integral turned-up edge of the main garment. In either case, due to the character of the material, and the fact that the upper edge of this fold is slightly longer than its bottom edge, it naturally tends to are out from the hood portion of the garment and assure the trough being normally open.

Actually the garment drapes over the shoulder with folds and curves and looks less like a molded, stiff shape, as the drawings would indicate. It may be ornamented and coloredrto make it pleasing and attractive in appearance, or for hospital use, may be white to match the uniforms of the nurses.

When one is using the garment in caring for the baby, she simply lays the hood on her shoulder and fastens the flaps about her neck. The garment is the same, front and back, so that it may be draped over either shoulder. The length of the garment is such that it may extend over the upper arm to the region of the elbow of the wearer, and it decreases in length toward the neck.

In caring for the baby, the baby after being fed is raised to the covered shoulder of the nurse or parent. If the baby drools or disgorges any of its food, the liquid will be received on the garment, and while it may flow down the garment, it will be retained in the trough l@ and cannot drain down on to the dress or clothing of the attendant.

After the garment has been used, it may be rinsed clean, and from time to time sterilizing and deodorant liquids may be used to clean it.

When formed from flat sheet material, the garment will normally have a seam l l along the shoulder ridge to cause it to have the desired hood-like or covering effect without excessive bulk or gathers.

While I have illustrated and described one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it may be modified and changed in various details within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope ci the following claims.

I claim:

1. A garment protector comprising an initially fiat sheet of material having a cut-out portion providing two edges connected together by a seam, said sheet having a shape when said edges are connected together conforming to the shoulder of a wearer and providing a simultaneons covering for the shoulder and front and back of the wearer, said shape being eiective to proE vide a protective covering having a top portion in which said seam is centrally located and extending rom the neck of the wearer over the shoulder, an end portion depending downwardly from said top portion to cover the arm, and spaced side portions depending downwardly to cover the front and back of the wearer, said side portions being extended in a direction away from said end portion to define an opening for the reception of the neck of the wearer, said protector being thereby eiective to protect the wearers garments 4 against substances discharged from the mouth of an infant being rested on the shoulder of the person wearing the protector.

2. A garment protector as claimed in claim 1 together with an upturned portion at the lower edge of said side and end portions to providea trough extending continuously around one side of a person wearing the protector.

3. A garment protector comprising a hoodshaped covering formed of sheet-like material and pre-shaped in the provision of an elongated top portion and a depending portion along two sides and one end thereof, said depending portion being continuous from one end to the other thereof and having its lower edge upturned to provide a trough extending around said two sides and said top end but spaced from said top portion, said top portion having a neck-opening therein at its other end, the material defining said neoi: opening being separated to form detaohabiy cennected flaps providing access to said neck opening.

BEATRICE L. CANTOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 632,863 Blank Sept. 12, 1899 636,462 Small Nov. 7, 1899 1,385,391 Pease July 26, 1921 1,980,436 Reagan Nov. 13, 1934: 

